Parents' Guide to

The Face

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Modeling competition features coaching and catty behavior.

TV Oxygen Reality TV 2013
The Face Poster Image

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What's the Story?

THE FACE is a modeling competition featuring three supermodels coaching teams of up-and-coming models in hopes of helping one of them win a modeling contract. Hosted by Nigel Barker, who is best known for his role as a judge on America's Next Top Model, the series stars internationally known models Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, and Coco Rocha, who have each chosen four young women out of thousands to be on their team. The girls then go on to participate in individual and team modeling challenges ranging from choosing fashionable accessories to match a dress to posing for photo shoots for professional clients. At the end of each team elimination challenge, the coaches of the two losing teams must pick one of their team members for elimination. The coach of the winning team gets to decide who goes home. The winner of the competition wins a modeling contract and becomes "the face" of Ulta brand cosmetics. The supermodel who coached her gets bragging rights.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The Face, which is executive produced by Naomi Campbell, offers lots of insight into what it takes to be successful in the modeling industry. However, the show's real drama comes from by pitting well-known supermodels against each other, which is underscored by Campbell's catty behavior towards her fellow coaches, and her tendency to be hypercritical of her team.

Teens interested in fashion and in modeling will probably gravitate towards the show. Reality fans will find it entertaining enough, too. But like most modeling-oriented TV, the series features lots of unrealistic images of young women, a lack of focus on substantial achievements or character, and designer clothing and accessories that most people can't afford.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the fashion and modeling industry markets itself. When looking at magazines and other fashion-related media, are models' bodies, poses, and clothes similar to what you see in real life? What kind of messages do these images send about what is considered the "right" size or the "right" look?

  • If you were to put together a fashion magazine featuring regular people instead of models, what it would look like? What actions can you take to make the fashion and beauty world more realistic?

  • Can you think of TV shows or movies where women work together? Why are these less common than shows and movies where women compete?

TV Details

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